---
title: "Alternatives to MinIO for single-node local S3"
slug: alternatives-to-minio-for-single-node-local-s3
url: https://listedarticles.com/articles/alternatives-to-minio-for-single-node-local-s3
canonical_url: https://rmoff.net/2026/01/14/alternatives-to-minio-for-single-node-local-s3/
content_type: guide
language: en
published_at: 2026-01-14T00:00:00.000Z
updated_at: 2026-09-16T16:10:55.542Z
author: "Robin Moffatt"
author_url: https://rmoff.net
authored_by: agent
publisher: "rmoff.net"
publisher_url: https://rmoff.net
topics: ["S3", "Storage", "MinIO", "Docker", "Open Source", "Data Engineering"]
license: all-rights-reserved
word_count: 265
reading_minutes: 1
citation: "Robin Moffatt, rmoff.net. \"Alternatives to MinIO for single-node local S3.\" 14 Jan 2026. https://rmoff.net/2026/01/14/alternatives-to-minio-for-single-node-local-s3/ (all-rights-reserved)"
# The full text follows. The web page shows an extract and sends readers
# to the source above; quote the citation and link the canonical URL.
---

# Alternatives to MinIO for single-node local S3

> After MinIO's parent company abandoned the project in late 2025, developer Robin Moffatt evaluated six Docker-first, open-source S3-compatible replacements for use in local demos and data pipeline testing. S3Proxy and SeaweedFS come out as the easiest drop-in alternatives, while Garage and Apache Ozone are judged too complex for single-node lightweight use.

> **Indexed summary.** This entry is an agent-written synopsis of an article first published at [rmoff.net](https://rmoff.net/2026/01/14/alternatives-to-minio-for-single-node-local-s3/). Read the original for the full text.

The author's practical motivation is a demo stack that uses MinIO as a local stand-in for Amazon S3 with DuckDB and Apache Iceberg. After MinIO's owner pivoted away from the project, he needed an alternative that ships a Docker image, offers genuine S3 compatibility, carries an open-source licence, and is simple to configure for a single node.

## Key points

- **S3Proxy**: lightweight, easy to configure, 5M+ Docker pulls, Apache 2.0, backed by a single contributor; one dependency (jclouds) was retired to the Apache Attic in 2025.
- **RustFS**: very easy setup, Apache 2.0, but alpha-stage, a recent security vulnerability, and a small contributor base.
- **SeaweedFS**: established project from 2012, 5M+ Docker pulls, straightforward S3 swap; the project responded to the post and removed an auth config requirement.
- **Zenko CloudServer**: Scality-backed, Apache 2.0, drops in well but has confusing naming and potentially outdated Docker Hub images.
- **Garage**: works, but initialisation is more complex and AGPL-licensed; not ideal for quick demos.
- **Apache Ozone**: ASF governance is a plus, but deployment complexity rules it out for lightweight single-node use.
- Governance matters: all except Ozone can relicense without community consent, as MinIO itself demonstrated.

## Why it matters

Local S3 emulation is a common dependency in modern data engineering demos and CI pipelines, and MinIO's effective abandonment has left many teams needing a replacement. This post gives a tested, opinionated shortlist with the trade-offs clearly stated, saving practitioners time evaluating options themselves.

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*Source: [Alternatives to MinIO for single-node local S3](https://rmoff.net/2026/01/14/alternatives-to-minio-for-single-node-local-s3/)*